LAKELAND, Fla. — Massachusetts racer Jeff Champagne has lined up a busy winter season for the remainder of this year and the start of the next.
After being “fogged-out” from this past weekend’s Panhandle Clash Midget race at the Pensacola Dirt Track, Champagne’s next drive comes December 30th and 31st with the running of the 24th Annual Rumble in Fort Wayne, In,.
Staged inside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, The Rumble gives drivers and crews their last opportunity of the season to chase for a victory. For this year’s event, Champagne will again be driving the No. 61 Kenyon/Gaerte Midget for the “King of the Midgets,” Mel Kenyon.
Recognized as one of auto racing’s most successful drivers, Kenyon has nearly four hundred wins in regional and national midget series. Competing primarily in USAC’s IndyCar and midget series, Kenyon won seven USAC National Midget Championships and nearly won in IndyCar, including the 500, on several occasions.
Though Champagne’s commitment to compete in the Panhandle Clash never gave him the ability to race a main event, he believes his time on Pensacola’s Dirt track wasn’t a complete loss.
“Fans certainly know the disappointment that comes from a rain-out,“ he said. “And undoubtably, this past weekend was frustrating. But if there is anything Mel Kenyon has taught me it is to look for the positives. Before the fog came, we did get to run hot laps and a heat race before the shutdown.
“Those laps increased my seat-time, giving me added experience in a different midget on a different dirt surface. Those are positives that I believe will assist me whenever and wherever I race. Now it’s time for The Rumble.”
The driver added, “Last year we had a strong car. Having Nick Hamilton, who won the 2017 Rumble as a teammate, was important in accelerating my learning process. During last year’s event our only blunder happened during our qualifying time. With only fourteen midgets starting in the A-main, you’ve got to be perfect. I needed to be flawless in our time-trial.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t time well, which put us in the back for our heat race. That was disappointing because we knew our car had much greater speed. Once I could run continuous laps the car really woke up. Our speed and ability showed well in our B-main and I was able to drive forward into a transfer spot, until we sadly got dumped.
“All things considered, getting the call from Mel to drive for him again is a real confidence booster. He’s raced for so long and seen so many drivers. It means so very much for me to be his choice … Knowing that he believes in me is the biggest vote of confidence I can ask for.”
The Rumble in Fort Wayne will air on PitRow.tv.